Henderson takes 3rd in discus...Walz Skills Camp...--Sunday Cardinal Couple

"E" WINS FLIGHT..FINISHED THIRD IN NCAA DISCUS FINALS

Louisville track and field coach Dale Cowper has been impressed with Emmonnie Henderson's discus improvement this season. She threw for a personal best and beat the UofL record for the toss Saturday in the NCAA Championships at Hawyard Field in Eugene, OR.  "E" sent the discus 58.34m (191-5) to edge out Tera Novy (USC) by two inches for third place in the finals.

The second set of flights had the first, second and fourth best throws of the day...Henderson had the best toss in the first flight and led by seven feet before the winning toss of Shelbi Vaughn of Texas A&M of 61.29m (201-5). Kelsey Card (Wisconsin) got second with a throw of 59.38m (194-10).


The throw by Henderson was good enough to qualify her for the U.S. Championships that take place in a couple of weeks in Eugene, OR. She has improved almost 50 feet in the discus toss since the season began. 

Congratulations to Emmonnie for capturing the bronze in the NCAA Championships! 

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WALZ SKILLS CAMP BRINGS THEM IN

A check of the roster yesterday at the June 13th. Louisville Basketball Elite Camp show 87 participants. While watching the Cardinal Arena facility action, I noticed several numbers not on the roster...so who knows how many 9-12 grade high school girls actually took part in the action. 

I arrived in time to catch some of the first round scrimmages...prior to my arrival the girls had already been through introductions, warm ups, full court drills, ball handling and passing stations. I limited my viewing to Cardinal Arena and spent time watching scrimmages and the drills and work with the "bigs" in attendance. 

During the scrimmages I saw, I was impressed with:

- Oneisha Turner (2016- Bowling Green, KY) a talented paint player with size and a good inside game.

- Amber Thompson (2016 - Dyer County, TN guard/wing) with a nice three point shot. 

- Minyon Moore (2016 - Salesian, CA) Mariya's little sister has big time game...shoots well and hustles all over the court. 

Ellie Davenport (St. Francis, KY), Jazmine Jones (Tallahassee, FL) and Deja Cage (Fenwick Academy, IL) were Class of 2016 attendees who also caught my eye. 

Owensboro H.S. (KY) really believes in the event...they brought a total of 14 listed players. There were a dozen or so participants from the Louisville area. 


Four to watch in the future? I'll toss these names out. 

- Michaela Bethel (2017 - Broken Arrow, OK). A very soft shot inside and good moves in the paint for a girl who could probably lose 20-30 pounds.

- Sydney Kidd (2017 - Wartburg Central, TN). All over the court and would be interesting to have "Syd the Kid Brackemyer" and Sydney Kidd both on the UofL roster, right? 

-Antoniette Mussorici (2018- St Pius X, Kansas City, MO) Aggressive guard who gets out on the break and passes well in transition. 

- Blair Green (2018 - Harlan Co. KY) Goes to the boards well, runs the court well and smooth shot.


Cardinals helping with the camp (that I saw) were Mariya

Moore, Sydney Brackemyer, Arica Carter, Cortnee Walton and recent graduate Shawnta' Dyer. Moore, Walton and Syd were active in the skill drills with the "bigs" and showed no mobility problems after sitting out last year. 

Syd is a born coach, working with the younger girls on positioning, ball placement and foot movement. 

My two hours at Cardinal Arena were fun. Best moment? 

Samantha Williams stops both scrimmages taking place and informs the participants:

""I'm seeing way too much dribbling and not enough passing. I assure you the balls have plenty of air in them. Ten dribbles in the half court set are too many! Involve your teammates! "  

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Our Saturday show should be posted today at the Crescent Hill Radio SoundCloud. We burned Sam in the quiz and got into a great discussion on the top UofL WBB players of all time. Sam and I chose a "all-time Walz team" and the results may surprise you. Link below:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR



paulie
xxxxx 

Henderson in two Women's NCAA Track and Field Championships Events -- Friday Cardinal Couple

"E" ranked 13th in shot put, 24th in discus

When the 2015 NCAA Track and Field Championships take place in Eugene, OR from June 10-1, Louisville will have two participants from the women's track and field squad. 

Emmonnie Henderson will take part in two events...the shot put and discus. The events are structured where the top 24 in the college world participate. "E" is ranked 13th. in the shot put and barely squeezed in the discus finals...ranked 24th. out of 24. 

Chanel Krause will be there also...ranked 13th in the pole vault. Her season high in the pole vault is a respectable 4.15meters (13.725 ft.). To put that in perspective, imagine her pole vaulting over the top of the backboard at the KFC YUM! Center. (and look out below...Cardinal cheerleaders!) 

"E" we know plenty about...here the scoop on Chanel. 

You might think she's from France with that name...but she's actually from Mobile, AL. and attended St. Paul Episcopal School. She's a sophomore like Henderson and has four brothers and a sister. 

She finished 6th. in the ACC outdoor Championships and 3rd. in the indoor Championships. In the 2015 season, she won three events...all outdoor. The Georgia Tech Invitational, Louisville Twilight and Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invitational were her "W's".

WE wish her and "E" great successes in Oregon! 


paulie
xxxxx

Backs against the wall...Softball loses to Kansas 1-0 -- Saturday Cardinal Couple

CARDS FALL IN 1-0 PITCHERS DUEL 

WILL COACH P GO WITH MCCOMBS TODAY? 

We mentioned the importance of hitting for the Louisville Softball team in the Friday Cardinal Couple edition. Unfortunately, it didn't make the trip to Columbia, MO. with the squad...Louisville getting a mere infield single from Kristina Dillard in seven innings and losing their first round NCAA game to Kansas 1-0 yesterday afternoon.

It was a game delayed by rain at the start and then stopped again in the fourth inning for almost two hours. The moving of the start time from 5 p.m. to 1 p.m. backfired in a sense but rain wasn't the culprit that put Louisville in a "must win" scenario for the rest of the Regional. 

It was the Cardinals trips to the plate. 


Maryssa Becker pitched well enough to deserve a "W" here. The All-ACC performer scattered seven hits and allow the lone run in the third inning when Kansas put together a single, stolen base and another single.

Becker pitched her way out of jams in the second and sixth innings...the Jayhawks loading the bases...but she was able to retire two straight in the second and three straight in the sixth to keep the Cards close.

Kayla Soles sent a deep drive to the left field wall with one out in the bottom of the seventh that looked like it might have a chance to tie it but Kansas left fielder Shannon McGinley made a leaping catch to turn it into just a long out. In Ulmer stadium, that one is a four-bagger. 

The Cards move to the losers bracket and will face Indiana State in an elimination game at 5 p.m (due to continued weather threats, the game will start today at 6:30pm)(We'll keep updating this as changes get announced...current expected start time is 6:30pm). today. ISU got pounded by host Missouri 7-0 after the Cards game yesterday. We're pretty sure this one is on ESPN3 but you just never know...Softball's Twitter account will keep you updated quite nicely as well and you can follow that right here on the Right Side of the Site.

Kramer didn't need Seinfeld
or Elaine to stick the TarHeels

It wasn't all that great of a day for ACC Softball...the league going 2-5 in opening round action. Fla. St. and NC State got the wins. North Carolina fell to Miranda Kramer's one-hitter and Western Kentucky 2-1. Also receiving "L"s were Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Pitt. 

We hope the Cards can get back on track in the first game today with a win. If they do, they would face either "one-loss" (depending on the outcome of their game) Missouri or Kansas. A win would mean that the Cards would keep playing until either they or their opponent gathers that second loss.

If they can't find the bats...it's I-40 and I-64 East for a few hours... 

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E WINS ACC SHOT PUT

Two sport star Emmonnie Henderson won the shot put throw at the ACC Outdoor Championships yesterday on her final throw...hurling a personal best 56-1 (17.09).

She had been passed by Sarah Howard (UNC) and Tremanisha Taylor (NC State) in the fifth round of throws. E responded with the clincher in her sixth and final toss.

From head Track and Field coach Dale Cowper:

" Emmonnie responded to being passed...in the fifth round by hitting a new personal best in the sixth round for the win. She is at her best when she gets challenged and she was definitely challenged today." 

(We hope it is the first of two championships that E can put on her resume...a 2015 NCAA Basketball 1st place finish would be the perfect compliment...) 

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ROWING STROKES TO STRONG SHOWING IN ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Louisville rowing team grabbed two first place finishes and three second place positions that will advance to the grand finals today in Clemson S.C.

Third Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 4 got first place for Derek Copeland's crew and Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 finished behind Virginia for runner up spots. 

Virginia won all five events they participated in and will be the ones to catch in today's championships. 

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WE'RE DOING RADIO TODAY

Be sure to tune in to our weekly CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO

SHOW today at 11 a.m. We're on WCHQ 100.9 FM locally and can also be heard at:

www.crescenthillradio.com

We'll review and discuss softball, volleyball, hoops, rowing, track & field and who knows what else. 

It live, it's unscripted and...it's fun! 

Join Paulie, Worldwide and maybe Sam the dry weather Intern (we never know if he's "in" or "out") for an hour of UofL women's sports discussion. 

Link below for the Internet broadcast of the show:

BALLS, BATS, PADDLES and HATS!  

paulie
xxxxx

Friday Cardinal Couple -- Emmonnie Henderson at Adidas Showcase

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Jenny's report on The National Adidas Basketball Showcase

The National Adidas Basketball Showcase was in town this week and playing at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.  I decided to go out to KFEC on Tuesday and try to catch a game with Louisville recruit Emmonnie Henderson from Edwardsville, IL. 

Jenny's car...don't get behind her in traffic! 

I left work in the Highlands at 5:30 with game time around 5:45.  With evening drive time traffic, I thought this was a lost cause.  Luck, though... was on my side, as I was able to exit the highway and was heading in the front gate of KEC at 5:39.  As if my good fortune with traffic were not enough, the lovely lady working the sole open gate passed me through without making me stop to pay the $8 parking fee!  Could this get any better?   Yes, it could!  I pulled right in to a front row parking spot in front of the main entrance in to the event.  Always one to acknowledge good fortune, I felt as if my trip to the tourney was just meant to be.   Though, the real challenge had just begun. 

Have you ever been to an AAU tournament?  Well, I have not been to a basketball one, but I have spent many a hours in tourneys with my volleyball playing step-daughter.  So, I knew getting in the door was not even half the battle.  The brackets are near impossible to read, and then finding the court your team is supposed to be on takes a special skill set. 

This particular day the event was winding down and fortunately it was not jam packed with coaches, observers and teams.  The real battle started trying to read the brackets and determine what court Henderson’s team was actually playing on.    After wandering the South Wing for at least 15 minutes, I finally found my destination at  exactly the last court I scoured.   On another day, with typical traffic, paying $8 to get in and walking clear across two parking lots to the entrance I would have given up and gone home.  But, with all the good fortune of the day, it was only fitting that one piece of finding my destination gave me the fits.   Nevertheless, I was relieved to reach the court. 

While the court was not packed with coaches and observers, there were some standouts.  Coach Walz was on the sidelines as was head coach Sharon Versyp from Purdue.  I also saw Tennessee orange on the sidelines, but was unsure what assistant from Tennessee it was.  If coaching staffs from Kentucky or Miami (FL) were in attendance, I did not see them.  That is not to say they were not there, I just did not see them.   Cardinal players Megan Deines and Bria Smith were spotted in the stands taking in the action.  

On to the real reason I attended... to watch Henderson play.  The player who drew me to the event was an easy stand out.  One of the biggest kids on the court, her strength was evident in her big frame.  This past season she averaged 15.6 ppg and 8 rebounds per game.  I understand why.   Henderson was strong around the basket.  She was strong rebounding, and strong scoring around the basket. 

With her back to the basket, double-teamed, it was easy for her to create space and turn and shoot.   I saw three offensive sets of this nature (in the second half of play, because I wandered the South Wing for most of the first half looking for my destination) and every time she converted.  She took the ball through traffic and went hard converting and drawing the foul.  All of her offense was created around the basket.  I saw no mid-range game at all.  What she did do offensively, she did very well. 

For her size, she was surprisingly quick down the court.  Not the fastest kid on the court, but she did motor down court quicker than her size would indicate.   She was a strong rebounder as one would expect with her strength and size around the basket.    

Admittedly...not knowing how much she had already played during the day, she did seem to tire.  She was rested for a few minutes on the sidelines during the second half before returning and presumably fouling out in the last 30 seconds of the game.   She seems to have the strength and frame to do well in the Big East, but will need to condition well over the next year to prepare herself for the rigors of a paint player in the Big East.  The combined muscle mass of Sarah Hammond and Henderson would be a force... even in the physical Big East. 

As noted in my article on Wednesday, Louisville is one of 5 schools remaining on her list of choices.  At least 3 of the teams vying for her services were on the sidelines Tuesday.  In an interview in May...Henderson indicated she would make her decision before the end of the year.  I look for her to make her decision and sign in the early signing period in November.  

Keep it tuned here readers, for all the updates you need for Louisville Women’s Basketball.  


-- Great review and report on Emmonnie, Jenny! From a very reliable source who has seen her play several times:


"This girl is strength and her skill level continues to improve. If she was in the 2012 class, she'd be starting in the paint for the Cards. Combine her with Mercedes Russell in 2013 and Louisville will have the dominant paint presence in the BIG EAST.  She'll also be a four year champion in BIG EAST Shot Put and Discus." 


Impressive words.  Go get her, Coach Walz! 
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MONDAY Cardinal Couple: Softball the BIG EAST CHAMPS!

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball defeats St. John's 3-1 to sweep series


-Women's track wins 5th straight BIG EAST outdoor title


-Some final Derby Week comments


-Marinatto steps down as BIG EAST COMMISH. 

Whitney Arion's two run blast was the key for UofL.

Whitney Arion's two run blast in the fifth inning was the difference maker in Louisville Softball's 3-1 win over St. John's Sunday in Queens, NY. With the victory, Louisville sweeps the regular season-ending series against the Red Storm, finishes 50-3 on the season an 20-2 in the BIG EAST and will get the #1 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. Louisville will open up tournament play on Thursday, May 11th against #8 seed Connecticut at 12:30 p.m. The BIG EAST tournament will take place in South Bend, IN.

CARALISA Connell
started for UofL

Sunday's game was a scoreless affair for four innings matching Cards pitcher Caralisa Connell (18-1) and St. John's thrower Ashley Beza. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Arion took a Beza pitch over the left field fence to score her and Kayla Sloes, who had reached base on a Red Storm fielding error.


St. John's got a run in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Chelsea Leonard but Louisville pushed the margin to 3-1 in the top of the seventh when sophomore Jordan Trimble doubled and scored on a Maggie Ruckenbrod single.

Chelsea Leonard
picked up the save.

Leonard pitched her way out of trouble in the bottom of the seventh.  A single, walk and Leonard's second wild pitch of the game gave St. John's runners on second and third with two outs...but Leonard got Erin Burner to strike out and end the threat and the game.


It was Leonard's 10th save of the year, tops in the nation. 


A great regular season for the softball team and the road now leads to the BIG EAST Tournament and NCAA Regionals. 


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Abdullah won the
discus today

Louisville women's track and field won their fifth straight BIG EAST Championship Sunday in Tampa, FL...getting a big boost from field events for the second day in a row. Khadija Abdullah won the discus and Amashi Kendall finished third.


Michelle Theophille won her first BIG EAST high jump title and teammate Megan Schubert grabbed fourth place. Charachesicia Lockhart finished fifth in the triple jump and Ahlivia Spencer set a school record and ran sixth in the 800m. 


Final point totals:


Louisville  -  104
Notre Dame  - 99.50
South Florida - 84
Cincinnati - 81
West Virginia - 72


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The 138th Kentucky Derby is in the books now and it did answer a few questions for us but also left a few remaining questions. 

-- No doubt, the West Coast horses made a strong showing this year. Santa Anita Derby I'll Have Another won the race and Creative Cause wasn't too far back. Bob Baffert's Bodemeister set a wicked pace...maybe too fast...but was there until the final few steps. 


-- Will this be the last Derby where horses can run on Lasix? Racing commissions in Kentucky, New York and many other states are looking at a ban on the diuretic and bleeding-prevention medication. 


-- Who will come back for the Preakness? We'll know that soon enough...but unless there's injury or an owner looking to rest a horse, we expect the top five finishers from the Derby to contest the 1 3/16th event at Pimilco in two weeks. 

-- Will Hansen's owner's finally "get it" and let "Big Whitey" run in races he has a chance in...namely  anything a mile and eight or shorter? The horse looked washed out and just plain wore out after the Derby distance. 


-- Will the increases in attendance on Wednesday and Thursday during Derby week convince Churchill to offer a few stakes or Graded races those days? Honestly, the card on Thursday was just awful when it
came to feature and quality races. 


-- Does the lack of casino gambling in Kentucky kill the thoroughbred horse tracks at Churchill, Ellis Park, Turfway? Name trainers, owner and jockeys are splitting right after Derby Week and headed to higher paydays in New York and California. Wake up, Kentucky state Senate. Give the people the right to vote on it.

-- Could next year's Derby Week get any more exciting or embarrassing for media events and sensational journalism? You had Robby Albarado resurrecting his boxing career, Cyndi Lauper dropping
nasty words in front of little girls, Richie Farmer getting more print that he wanted (and not basketball-related) and a death in the barns the day after Derby. 


In all fairness, you also had one of the most exciting Derby's in the past few years...a female jockey winning the Oaks for the first time ever and a first-time jockey to Kentucky and Churchill winning the Derby. Record crowds and (mostly) great weather. 


-- The owner, trainer and jockey of I'll Have Another discuss the win at the link below


We'll have a few words about I'll Have Another 

-- Finally, we will continue our quest to be granted official media credentials to Churchill. A formal letter of request has been mailed to Darren Rogers at Churchill (per his verbal suggestion) now that Derby 138 is in the books. 


As we pointed out, we've provided 11 straight days of horse-racing articles to you...the readers. We'll go the Andy DuFresne route from the movie Shawshank Redemption. We'll mail a letter a week if we have to. 


We thank you for your e-mails and calls of support on this issue. Rogers seems to think we don't get enough "play" in our comments section. We can't control that.
No one is forcing a single reader here to make comments. We get plenty of e-mails, though...and that is proof enough to us that you're reading, have opinions and care. 


A noted writer here locally told me, in reference to his website:


"Paul, I'd do away with a message board and comments section if I could. It's the haven of flamers, idiots and mal-contents." 


They can't ignore us forever. We're not going anywhere. The gorilla in the corner is not staying quiet. Hand the ball to the girl out of bounds and drop back into the zone coverage. Game far from over. 


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John Marinatto has resigned as BIG EAST Commish. There is a God, after all. How many teams left the BIG EAST during his watch? And who came in? Bye, bye...now. See ya later. Don't let the door slam you in the back as you leave. 

A league that sorely needs direction, guidance and "out of the box thinking" was being run by a lost hippo in the rain-forest looking for a place to take a nap and a dump. Not necessarily in that order, either. 


It's nothing personal, John. I'm sure you're a great guy, super dad, wonderful hubby and a lot of fun to be around on poker night or a day at the races. 


You're just not a very good commish. 

Louisville, here's your sign for the umpteenth time. Get out. Run while you can. Go independent, BIG 12 or Bill and Ted's Excellent Conference (dude) but break the chains and run away from the small, non-football playing Catholic Universities that control the landscape of the BIG EAST. Let Providence, Villanova, St John's and Seton Hall wallow in their own self-importance. Replace your divot and drive on down the fairway, Cards. 


And, we're not religion-bashing here either. It's a matter of recent relativity relevance. And the four schools above haven't been relevant in a long time in athletics. 


Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, Miami, Virginia Tech, West Virginia...uh...we're beginning to see a trend here. Get us in the truck, Tom Jurich...and let's go.
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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball clinches the BIG EAST title with doubleheader win over St. John's


-Track leads after Day Two of BIG EAST Championships


-Watson on the Kentucky Derby 138.


The University of Louisville softball team captured the regular season BIG EAST title with a doubleheader sweep of St John's Saturday. The Cards defeated the Red Storm 15-4 and 8-4. With the wins, Louisville is now 49-3 on the season.


The bats that had been a little quiet lately showed up Saturday at Metallica levels.  

Louisville plated ten runs in the final two innings of game one to break wide open the contest. Caralisa Connell (17-1) got the win...going 6.1 innings. Tori Collins came in to get the final two batters out in the bottom of the seventh. 


Louisville had 17 hits. Kayla Soles went 3 for 4 and Taner Fowler joined Alicja Wolny at 2 for 4...each hitting a home run. 


In the second game, Wolny continued the hot streak with 3 for 4 hitting and another homer. Fowler also sent another one over the fence. The Cards jumped out to a 2-0 lead and were never tested. Chelsea Leonard gets the "W" and goes to 9-1 on the season. She pitched five innings of five-hit softball and allowed two unearned runs. Tori Collins pitched two innings of relief.   

This is the first BIG EAST regular season title for Louisville since 2006 and the second overall. With Saturday's wins...Sandy Pearsall has now won 500 games at Louisville. 

They'll conclude the regular season with a noon start today. 


*******************************************


Thanks to the throwers, Louisville's women's track and field team leads the BIG EAST Championships with 53 points (a 12 point lead) after two days of competition.

Stepping up big for the Cards were the shot-put throwers. Chinwe Okoro finished first, Khadija Abdullah took second and Amashi Kendall grabbed fourth. The 1-2-4 finished netted Louisville 23 points.


Action concludes today down in Tampa...beginning at 10 a.m.


*******************************************


(David Watson is a special correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. He watched the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby and files this commentary. It's David...so be ready for anything...) 

My wife and I settled down in front of the television in the "man cave" shortly before 6 p.m. to watch the annual Run for the Roses with a pizza and beverages. Store bought pizza, but not bad -- and when she asked me if I'd like another slice, my reply was:


"Yes, I'll have another." 


She chuckled. "That's one of the horses in the Derby. I'll Have Another." 


"I hope he hasn't been eating pizza before the race." I countered. 


I would imagine that anything he wants to consume would be on the menu today. A 1 1/2 length win over a Bodemeister that looked so tired and spent in the final few yards that I thought the Churchill Downs tractors were going to have to roll up and give him a ride to the finish line. 

Winning rider and owner of I'll Have Another

Rookie jockey on a horse that was an after-thought to most of the 160,000 plus out getting baked in the 85 degree, muggy Louisville weather at Churchill. A feel-good story for a horse and rider that went off at 15-1. 


My pick, OPTIMIZER, must have taken a wrong turn when they hit the Churchill stretch. The official report is that he finished 11th. I think he jumped the fence and went over to party with the gang in the Infield. He's probably over at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium right now trying to impress Charlie Strong with his speed in the "40". 


Our illustrious co-owners of CARDINAL COUPLE were attending a Derby Party that they go to each year. I called Paul about five minutes before the race and discreetly asked if there were "pari-mutual" options available there. He chuckled and said that he was that "option" and having a pretty good day discussing "long and short term investment strategies" with the party goers. I asked if I could participate. I asked my wife if she'd like to participate as well. For entertainment purposes only, of course.


"I'll have another." she flatly stated. 


I'm headed down to Louisville next week to file a missing horse report on Optimizer. While I'm there, I'll hook up with Paul and offer to by him lunch...collecting $32.60 from (as he called it) the "Richie Farmer Defense Slush Fund." 

I'll Have Another pulls away.

Major jockeys and trainers are griping today about getting slammed into, checked, bumped and crowded in "the greatest two minutes of sports" yesterday. Somewhere, though, back in the Churchill Downs barns, a brown three-year old is looking out of his stall and is probably amused at the throngs of people walking by, staring and pointing out that he is the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner. If horses could talk, I'm guessing he'd comment:


"Where were all you guys when I was here the last couple of days?" 


I'll give myself a pat on the back and point out that I did pick I'll Have Another as my third pick in Saturday's selections here at CARDINAL COUPLE. That would have been worth $9.00 at the track after the race. Don't worry, I'm not quitting my day job and spending my time and efforts on horse race handicapping. 


The Preakness is in two weeks. I'll watch it with my wife again I'll HAVE ANOTHER store-bought pizza and see if we have a Triple Crown contender or not. Meanwhile, I think I'll head into the kitchen and get out the refrigerated, left-over slices of pizza from yesterday. 


Yes, I think that "I'll Have Another." slice or two.

Then, it's time to don the Columbo raincoat, get out the Kojak lollipop and gather up Gibbs, Ziva, DiNozzo and McGee and see if we can track down Optimizer. 


( For the record, I do not recall...Mr. Senator and members of the fact-finding committee...ever receiving a phone call from David Watson and there is, in no way, shape or form...any type of written or collaborating evidence to verify his claims in today's column. 


But, we are BIG fans of the Richie Farmer Defense Slush Fund. For entertainment purposes only, of course).


Paul   
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...

.
FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball Cards take on St. John this weekend


-BIG EAST Track and Field Championships


-Churchill Thursday


-OAKS picks


Louisville softball closes out the BIG EAST regular season with three games on the road against St. John's beginning Saturday. The Cards have a chance to win the BIG EAST regular season title if they can win in Queens. 


The Top 4 in the BIG EAST:


1) Louisville          17-2
2) South Florida    16-3
3) Notre Dame      13-3
4) Syracuse          15-4

Obviously, if the Cards can get the broom out on the Red Storm and sweep the series, they are the BIG EAST regular season champs. If they lose, their chances of taking the title will be determined by how the three below them do. South Florida is at Syracuse for three games this weekend. Notre Dame travels to Pitt for their final three games of the regular season. 


The South Florida vs. Syracuse games are ones to keep an eye on. Syracuse could actually move to second in the conference if they can win two of the three against the Bulls and Notre Dame falls in one of their games against the Panthers. 

The scheduling of BIG EAST games is a bit of a mystery. Louisville did not play either Syracuse or Notre Dame during the regular season. They did defeat South Florida twice in a double-header April 18th. at Ulmer Stadium


For the Cards...as Oakland Raiders guru Al Davis used to say:


"Just win, baby." 


Game times are noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. 


*******************************************

Louisville Track and Field begins competition in the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships today. The three-day events are being held at the USF Track and Field Stadium on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa. 


The Cardinal women are looking for their fifth-straight BIG EAST Outdoor title. No one has matched this streak in the history of BIG EAST track. 


Cardinals we expect to do well:


-- Michelle Theophille in the high jump and Charachesicia Lockhart in the long jump and triple jump.


-- Chinwe Okoro, Khadija Abdullah and Amashi Kendall in the shot put and discus. 


-- Jenna Wargo in the javelin. 


-- Holly Knight in the 5000m and 10000m distance events. 


-- Ahlivia Spencer in the 800m.


-- Margret Harris in the 100m.


You can follow the action up-to-the-minute from the team's Twitter account at:


Louisville Track and Field twitter

www.twitter.com/louisvilletrack


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Brother Ron, Norma and Susan Stidham

Thursday was Turf Club Day for your intrepid CARDINAL COUPLE co-owner Paul at Churchill. Yeah, it's a dress-up kind of day and I sit at Bread Boy's table up there and watch the movers and shakers, titans of industry and posers hob-knob. The best part of the day, besides watching Bread Boy work the crowd like a politician on the campaign trail is seeing the St. Louis boys Alan and Vince. 


So, armed with Friday's racing form (yeah, I bought the wrong day's form Thursday morning) I stopped by to pick up Tommy Boy and we hit the track. Before taking the magical elevator to the third floor, we stopped in Champions to see a few people and get a Irish coffee. 


I was pleasantly surprised to run into my pal Christy in there. She's probably the closest thing I have to a sister in this world and she was working there yesterday as a mutual clerk. We caught up on things and then it was up to the third floor. 

St. Louis Vince and Tommy Boy

The boys from St. Louis were in rare form and were still chuckling about last year's meeting and the legendary time they had with Tommy Boy and I. We had a little racing luck...hitting the first Pick Three of the day and the second Pick 4. I also caught a sleeper at 8-1 when Brian Hernandez, Jr. took the field by surprise and won the 5th. race on Canook. I really liked his chances and sunk a fairly sizable wager on him to win, place and show. $18.60 was the win payout and Canook paid $29.80 on a $2 across the board venture. 

Bruce and Tommy Boy have decided they don't
need the tops of their heads anymore...(or I took the
picture wrong) Whatever. 

I also got downstairs to see my buddies Norma, her brother Ron and Susan Stidham. 


A great day at the track with good friends and another afternoon where I left with my pockets full of cash. 


The evening ended up with the boys at Mulligan's having a celebration toast and pizza. Then, home to Sonja and a recap of the day's events before happily nodding off to sleep before the 11:00 news. 


Good times.


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OK...you've waited patiently for them and now will be rewarded. Here are Sonja and Paul's picks for the Kentucky Oaks today. We've also listed a few horses that we think will do well in other races on the Friday card. Selections listed here are for entertainment purposes only and we remind you wager responsibly.


Paul


I mentioned earlier in the week that I thought this was a two-horse race and I'm still going with that statement. ON FIRE BABY and GRACE HALL will finish first and second. Their also coming out of the #1 and #2 post positions and Churchill has really been favoring horses on the rail this week. Especially in the stretch. I honestly can't choose between the two, so I'm just going to do an exacta box with them. 
Third place? That's a toughie...but I'll suggest either Summer Applause or Broadway's Alibi. Good luck


Sonja


I'm going to steer clear of Paulie "Captain Obvious" theory and try to get a price in the Oaks. Put me down for Believe You Can and Eden's Moon. I'll defer and use On Fire Baby and Grace Hall in any exotics I attempt -- but I'm going across the board on my first two picks and hope I get paid for the risk. Have a great Oaks Day, readers! Time to go to the track! 


You might also keep an eye on:


Race 3 -- Ice Cream Silence and Young and Lovely.


Race 6 -- Plum Pretty (best pick of the day)


Race 7 -- Good Deed


Race 8 -- Stephanie's Kitten and More than Love


Race 10 -- Gung Ho and Silver Max


Finally, this classic column (courtesy of Eric Crawford - Courier Journal) from the late, great Mike Barry. 


LINK:
So you want to read the Racing form?


(We'll have Derby picks tomorrow)
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